Mary Frances Winstead was born in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, on December 17, 1931. She was one of 6 children born to Alfred R. Anderson and Mabel C. Anderson (née Ward). Along with her brothers Donald and Buddy, and her sisters Dorothy, Nell, and Margaret, Mary grew up in the coal mining town of Big Stone Gap where she went to high school. She was the first team forward on the girls basketball team and was a good athlete and student. She lettered for her basketball achievements. It was also in Big Stone Gap where she met and married a skinny, but strong and handsome, Air Force recruit named Donald Winstead. They were married on December 23, 1951. Like most military families, their life was spent moving from place to place. Their travels took them to Illinois, Germany, Florida, California, Colorado, and then back to California again. Along the way they had three children Donald Jr., Dennis, and Scott. Mary enjoyed being a housewife and mother. She took great pride in keeping a clean, comfortable home and raising her three boys. In her spare time she liked to bowl and she belonged to several bowling leagues, and she would bowl in tournaments whenever possible. She was league secretary, and she helped children learn to bowl as an American Junior Bowling Congress coach. She also like to take trips to Tahoe and Reno to play the slots, watch sporting events, and play cards. After her husband retired from the Air Force in 1974, they put down permanent roots in Orangevale, California. It was then that Mary went to work for the Anthony's Real Estate School, in Sacramento. She started as an office receptionist/registrar, but was later promoted to Office Manager. She took great pride in her work and was very serious about helping the students of the school complete their education in a friendly, but very professional manner. After seeing her sons finish college and leave the nest, Mary and Don started happily welcoming their grandchildren Donald III and Stacy into their lives. She spent many joyful hours babysitting and helping her grandchildren. Mary retired from Anthony's, but continued to work part time for a while at the Sacramento County Office of Voter Registration where she help process new voter registration cards and enter registration data. After Don's passing in 1989, Mary retired full time and devoted most of her time to gardening around her home, and her family. She still continued to bowl for a while, went to bingo, made occasional trips to Reno and Tahoe, and from time to time traveled back to Virginia and Tennessee, but she preferred to stay pretty much close to home. She was a sports enthusiast and really enjoyed watching and rooting for the Giants, 49ers, Kings, and Sharks. Her granddaughter Katie was born in 1996 and added to the joy in her life. She would, on occasion, fly to Louisiana to visit Scott's family and to meet her great-grandchildren. As her health declined, her traveling diminished and she found comfort staying even closer to home. Mary passed away on Thursday, November 17, 2011, in Sacramento. She was 79 years old. Mary will be remembered as a warm, loving, thoughtful, and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.
Mary is survived by her three sons, Donald Howard Winstead, Jr., Dennis Martin Winstead, and Scott Alan Winstead; brother Alfred "Buddy" Richard Anderson, Jr.; daughters-in law Debra Anne Winstead and Jody Elizabeth Winstead; grandchildren Donald Howard Winstead III, Stacy Anne Winstead, and Katherine Mary Winstead; grandchildren by marriage Kenneth Glenn Miller, Michelle Renéa Miller, and Richard James Miller; great-grandchildren by marriage Alli, Landon, Anderson, and Colin; sisters-in law Evelyn Anderson, Fonda Anderson, Betty (Winstead) Berchinsky, Margaret (Winstead) Stultz, Barbara Winstead, and Bobbie Winstead; brothers-in law Glen Winstead, and Johnny Berchinsky; and many nieces and nephews who are extremely fond of her.
Mary is pre-deceased by her husband Donald Howard Winstead; her brother Donald Timmons Anderson; her sisters Dorothy Wayne Anderson (Best), Nell Elizabeth Anderson (Shelton), Margaret Ann Anderson (Euchner); her brothers-in law Robert Winstead, Martin D. Winstead, Wade Winstead, Sterling Winstead, and Charles Winstead; her sisters-in law Thelma Winstead (Carter), Carrie Winstead, and Nadine Winstead
Funeral services for Mary Frances Winstead will be held at noon, on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at Mount Vernon Memorial Park; 8201 Greenback Lane; Fair Oaks, California 95628. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, November 22, 2001, from 4:00-7:00 pm, also at Mount Vernon Memorial Park.
The family has also shared a link to view a video slideshow of Mary:
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